facthunter Posted January 22, 2011 Posted January 22, 2011 There is a LOT of information on the "Corvair aero conversion" on the net. There is even a 2-cylinder variant, though I think I would be making patterns for the crankcase and doing a specific casting rather than cutting the block down. As a SIX they are very smooth and a lot narrower than a Continental or Lycoming.. The one-piece cylinder heads would not be a good point, but may not be a problem in practice. A single carb set-up has a long intake (because the SINGLE intake for each head is on the top,) and can have icing problems. VW's do too. The motor seems safe to 100 HP but direct drive at 3,000 plus rpm means a smaller prop than optimum for a draggy plane. Think the motor is worth a look..The drive end main bearing needs extra support, due to gyroscopic loading when turning sharply at revs on the ground..Nev
old man emu Posted January 23, 2011 Posted January 23, 2011 Thanks, Scotty. I'm at [email protected] OME
eightyknots Posted January 24, 2011 Posted January 24, 2011 Gooday ScottyI'm always interested in alternative engines for U/L aircraft How about the UL series engines from Belgium as an alternative engine for ultralights?
Bubbleboy Posted January 24, 2011 Author Posted January 24, 2011 Hi EK....never heard of them. Im using the Corvair as I have most of it here now. You living in Masterton? I did my training at Wairarapa Funeral Services with David Dew. I know he opened up his own one there at one stage. Scotty
old man emu Posted January 24, 2011 Posted January 24, 2011 Scotty, Have you seen this site? http://www.hainesengineering.com/rhaines/corvair.htm OME
Bubbleboy Posted January 24, 2011 Author Posted January 24, 2011 Hi Mark...have seen pictures from that site but havent read it all. Looks good. There are numerous Corvair aero conversion sites out there. This guy is doing a few odd things with his but I guess thats what makes experimental so experimental!
Bubbleboy Posted June 27, 2011 Author Posted June 27, 2011 How's this for an instrument panel?[ATTACH=full]14260[/ATTACH] OME Sent you an email Mark.
Bubbleboy Posted July 23, 2012 Author Posted July 23, 2012 Hadnt posted any progress here for a while as it goes straight up on my website. I have been building the control system and thought I might have a show and tell post! Scotty 2
Pilot Pete Posted July 23, 2012 Posted July 23, 2012 Hey Scotty.........Where did you get the leather helmut and goggles from. I need something like that for my Nieuport.
Bubbleboy Posted July 24, 2012 Author Posted July 24, 2012 Hi Pete.....The helmet is from http://www.gibson-barnes.com/dept-293802/Open-Cockpit-Helmets.html and the googles from http://classicpartsltd.com/goggles/brass-mark-49-brown-halcyon-goggles.html Is you Nieuport an Airdrome kit? I am looking at the Nieuport 17 for a future build. Scotty
Pilot Pete Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 The Nieuport is a Grahame Lee Plans built with Airdrome supplyiny the undercarriage kit, control assembly kit and a few other bits and pieces. It was a project started by someone else here in Toowoomba and now its my turn.
Bubbleboy Posted July 24, 2012 Author Posted July 24, 2012 Ok.... Sounds good! When do you expect it to see air under its wings?
Pilot Pete Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Mid next year all going well. I have everything I need except the fabric and Im going to get some quotes on that shortly.
Wayne T Mathews Posted July 24, 2012 Posted July 24, 2012 Mid next year all going well. I have everything I need except the fabric and Im going to get some quotes on that shortly. If you're looking to get someone to do the fabric for you Pete, Nick and Greg Challner down at Murwillumbah covered my Cub back in '83 with Ceconite, and it's still in bloody good nick. No pun intended, Nick. They've been doing it for a long time, and the evidence is they do it well.
Bubbleboy Posted February 3, 2013 Author Posted February 3, 2013 Its been a productive month! Building the fuselage and even had a trial fit of the tail wheel today! Scotty 5
Pilot Pete Posted February 3, 2013 Posted February 3, 2013 Like they used to say on The A Team...."I love it when a plane....er....plan comes together" 1
Bubbleboy Posted February 20, 2013 Author Posted February 20, 2013 Milestone tonight!...Removed the fuselage from the build table and turned it up the right way! Tried on the tail sections and even gave it its first taste of daylight! Now time to fit it out! Scotty 2 1
corvairkr Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 Excellent Scotty! Its looking more like an aeroplane every day jason 1 1
old man emu Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 Scotty, Before you go much further, make some enquiries about enlarging the gap in that bulkhead between the cockpits. Ask on the Pietenpol forums if you can fit a cross cockpit stringer at the height of the curved cut-out and fit diagonal stringers from the lower fuselage cross member to the newly fitted cross cockpit stringer. Then cut away the plywood sheeting to enlarge the hole for your feet to go through. I found that with the foot hole as narrow as you have it, I couldn't get my No 10's through the hole. or get enough bend in my legs to get out. I'm sure that this modification won't reduce the stength of the bulkhead, but will make getting in and out easier for the pilot. OME 1
Pilot Pete Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 Gets exciting doesnt it when it gets to this stage. Wait till you get it on its wheels, fair dinkum you will find yourself sitting in it daydreaming. I do all the time. 2
Piet Fil Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 Scotty, Looking great, starting to really come together. Loved the photos with the empennage in position makes it look very plane like. Can't wait to be at that stage. 1
Bubbleboy Posted February 21, 2013 Author Posted February 21, 2013 Scotty,Before you go much further, make some enquiries about enlarging the gap in that bulkhead between the cockpits. Ask on the Pietenpol forums if you can fit a cross cockpit stringer at the height of the curved cut-out and fit diagonal stringers from the lower fuselage cross member to the newly fitted cross cockpit stringer. Then cut away the plywood sheeting to enlarge the hole for your feet to go through. I found that with the foot hole as narrow as you have it, I couldn't get my No 10's through the hole. or get enough bend in my legs to get out. I'm sure that this modification won't reduce the stength of the bulkhead, but will make getting in and out easier for the pilot. OME Hi Mark...im a step ahead of ya...lol! I made the cut outs higher and wider than the plans. This is a common suggestion from fellow Piet builders Scotty
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